Saturday, April 18, 2009

Belle Isle unveils its new police force and car

Belle Isle Police Department Chief John Tegg shows the newestpatrol car, a Smart Car, on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Belle Isle's new PoliceDepartment may be small, but its patrol car is even smaller. It's a 2-seat SmartCar, and it's designated number is .5. "It's .5 because is not quite afull-sized car," Tegg said. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda, Orlando Sentinel / April15, 2009)

BELLE ISLE, FLORIDA - Police Chief John Tegg bends his 6-foot, 280-pound frame into the smallest official police car most folks have ever seen, pulling his knees up around the steering wheel until he can push back the seat. He insists that he's perfectly comfortable.Along with formally introducing Belle Isle to its new police force this afternoon, Tegg is showing off the pride of the department -- what he says is the first Smart Car police vehicle.The fuel-sipping, diminutive two-seater looks more like a golf cart with lights and sirens than the sentry of the road."One fella told me he's not sure he'd pull over for this little thing," Tegg said. "I said you'd better if you know what's good for you."